Eradicating oil and grease from floors and driveways



Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. PLANK, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to a detergent and particularly to a composition which is especially useful in cleaning accumulations of grease and oil from garage floors or from driveways.

An object of the inventionis to provide a composition which will first dissolve the oil and grease and then absorb it, and which may then be readily removed from the floor taking the oil and grease with it. Another object is the provision of a composition which will remove grease and 011 from a surface and in addition will bleach any stains that might otherwise be left.

My cleaning composition is especially suitable for use in the presence of machinery as it contains no sand or grit which might find its way into the machinery and do serious damage.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows: In preparing my cleaning composition, to a quantity of wood flour, or wood dust, preferably of the kind obtained from the sanding machines of lumber mills, is added a quantity of hydrocarbon distillate sufiieient to moisten the wood flour. The hydrocarbon is preferably that which is known as kerosene and may be any hydrocarbon having a boiling point between 160 F. and 575 F. To the foregoing is added a small amount of crude carbolic acid to destroy any objectionable odors of'the oil or wood. A

bleaching agent such as oxalic acid is then added. If desired a coloring pigment may be added to give the composition a more pleasing appearance.

The above ingredients, or their equivalents, may, in various proportions, be com- Application filed September 16, 1927. Serial No. 220,064.

mingled into a composition which can be readily packaged and transported, is easy to use and accomplishes splendid results.

In order to remove a grease or oil stain from a floor a quantity of this composition is spread upon the stained portion and is swept about thereupon. The kerosene ingredient combines with the grease or oil forming a thinner mixture which is absorbed by the wood flour and. removed therewith. Any stain which would otherwise be left is acted upon by the oxalic acid and bleached thereby.

In practicing my invention I have obtained satisfactory results from the following proportions of ingredients:

Wood flour, 10 lbs; hydrocarbon distillate, 4 qts.; crude earbolic acid, 4 02.; (1)xalic acid, oz.; orange coloring pigment,

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the exact proportions above set forth and that it is sometimes desirable to modify the proportions to suit the par.- ticular use which is to be made of the com position. The amount of hydrocarbon distillate used must be varied according to the properties of the wood flour used. 4

Having thus described my. invention what I claim is A detergent composition for removing accumulations of grease and oil from garage floors consisting of the following ingredients in substantially these proportions; wood flour ten pounds, kerosene four quarts, crude carbolic acid four ounces, oxalic acid one-half ounce.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT E. PLANK. 

